During this time, the population witnessed serious displacements of people regrouping with their respective communities. At that time arcenciel decided to work differently by creating a structure that permitted to serve all without discrimination, thus opposing the common logic of segregation.
Lebanese Conservation Volunteer Program
- Location of the Project: Lebanon, Shouf Biosphere the world’s largest Cedar tree forest
- Duration Two weeks: From August 1st to the 15th.
Context of the project:
Climate change and the increasing threat of urbanization are wreaking havoc on Lebanon’s biodiversity. In order to fight the impact of those threats, arcenciel is forming a team of conservation volunteers to keep our forests safe.
Activities and expected results
To accomplish our objectives, we will focus our actions on the transmission of methods of advanced conservation techniques and forestry management followed by the direct implementation of those techniques through four main partners: the natural reserve and biosphere of Shouf located in Mount-Lebanon; local universities; the sustainable development team of the Fondation d’entreprise Hermès; the Icelandic Conservation Volunteers team (ICV).
In the framework of this innovative project, the know-how of forestry and conservation work will be developed and spread so that we all contribute to preserve Lebanon’s biodiversity and ecosystem. For that, the following activities will be implemented:
Forestry and conservation training: Conduction of a two weeks training targeting 20 volunteers from 20 to 28 years old by experts (TOT’s), on forestry and conservation techniques, provided by universities, the Fondation d’entreprise Hermès team and ICV.
We are looking for two trail building and conservation experts, the experts will be required to:
- Share with the group of 20 trainees through a presentation at the beginning of the program, their knowledge on trail building and conservation.
- Lead a group of 20 young volunteers with the help of local rangers in building trails using mostly stone in the Shouf Biosphere Reserve
What you will be benefitting from:
- All accommodation will be covered including: food, transport, insurance, essentials.
- During the weekend you will be given tours of arcenciel’s facilities such as bio-pesticide plant, 280 hectare of agriculture land, our farms and pilot projects. You will also receive personal tours of some of the country’s best touristic sites.
- During this project both experts and volunteers will learn: How to use stone and timber to make path based on international standards, first aid/search and rescue, wild fire prevention, basic and specific forestry monitoring techniques, pests and disease monitoring and management
- By the end of the two weeks training all participants will receive a certificate of conservation and forestry work in the reserve/biosphere of Shouf, recognized internationally by the Icelandic Conservation Volunteer organization. An additional reference letter will also be provided to all participants.
Being the first project of its kind, all participants will be pioneer volunteers in the region, and will all be in a database for future related projects and endeavors.
